Why I changed my career (or educational objectives):
I was a minor league baseball player pursuing my lifelong dream of becoming a major league baseball player. I never knew anything else that I would want to do for a career. Sadly, in the span of a year and a half I lost my mother-in-law and my father to cancer. Immediately after my mother-in-law had passed, my father was diagnosed and fought hard before passing. I spent a lot of time in the hospital visiting my father and our interactions with the doctor changed something inside me. I developed a great admiration for what doctors do and saw how important their interactions with patients were. I began to research the steps to take and now knew I did not want to do anything else other than become a doctor.
Why USC?
I thought that a postbacc program would provide me structure for what I thought of as a monumental task due to my lack of background in science and medicine. I wanted to make sure I was taking the right steps and the USC program provided many valuable resources in the form of people available to help and guide me along the right path. I also appreciated the fact that many other postbacc students were around me taking the same classes and going through the same process. There is always someone available to help and there are many ways to learn of volunteer or research opportunities as well as get help in classes.
Favorite Class/Professor at USC:
CHEM 322 Organic Chemistry with Dr. Jung.
Experiences with medicine
I started off volunteering in the Emergency Department at Providence St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Burbank. Later, through the postbacc program I learned about the Medical Volunteer Program at Cedars Sinai where I got to do things like shadow a surgical oncologist, and an anesthesiologist, as well as observe different surgeries. I got to be up close for an open heart surgery which I thought was fascinating.
When I'm not studying or volunteering
I enjoy spending time with my wife and family as well as trying to stay active, playing in many sports like basketball, golf, and roller hockey.